Apparatus for freeing potatoes from germs



v June 24, 1930. I FJBROCHET 1,765,902

APPARATUS FOR FREEING POTATOES FROM GERMS Filed March 21, 1928 Patented June 24, 1930h U 7 9 j UNITED STATES -PATENT' OFFICE j niiiuimn n s itoorrn'r, FonTnnAv- RnsieNY; R V APPARATUS roa remains ro'rA'roEsirRoM GERMS Application filed March 21, 1928, Serial No. 263,531, and in France March 31, 1927.

This invention relates to an apparatus, that their germs get successively under the possessing great efficiency, designed to mesmall-roller (Z to be pulled out as explained. chanically pull out the germs of potatoes According to the invention the drum a has without deteriorating the potato. v on its periphery longitudinal rings or ribs 7) This apparatus is characterized by the use of rounded section designed to assist they in combination of a device for conveyingthe conveying and turning of the potatoes and 1 potatoes and of a roller in contact with said to avoid crushing of the germ and breaking conveying device and adapted to rotate in the samev before it has been pulled out. the corresponding direction so that the The rings or ribs prevent the germ stickgerms held between the conveying device ing on the drum or on the roller and ensure 60 m and the roller are pulled out. removing of the samewithout clogging the An embodiment of the invention is illuss elements for pulling out the germs. trated, by way of example,fin the accoin The small roller cl may be resiliently panying drawing, in which :1 pressed against the drum aby anysuit'able Fig. 1 shows-in side elevation an ,appameans, either by a spiral spring '9 as shown ratus according to the invention. 7 lnFlg. 1 or by counter-weight'or the like;

Fig. 2. shows in side-elevation'the appa- In any case this small, roller olfiis placedf ratus ofanother form of construction. 7 on the drum in front of the vertical? axial Fig. Sis an end elevation of the apparatus plane of the drum in thedirection of rota on reduced scale. I tlon of the same, so that the potato remains? The system, according to the invention is permanently in contact withthe roller (Z.

as follows: a conveying device (Fig. 1) .One machine of this kindmay comprise consisting preferably of a cylinder or drum any desired number ofdrums of any desired a of a large diameter is rotated, in thedireclength and'diameter, provided the roller 03 tion of the'arrow. On this drum (1;, parallel for each drum be small enough to preventto its axis, a roller cl of small diameter small potatoes from engaging between the rests, which has a journal. at each end jourroller and the drum, only thegerms bein naled in a holder 0, free to yield in upward clamped. direction and pulled by the action of a. I As shown, in Figs. 2 and 3 the devicefor spring 9 or of a heavy mass against the conveying the potatoes may consist of an. 0 drum-a. The roller rotated bythe'rotaendless band h reinforced sticks and Q o the drum a in pp directilon as guided around two cylindersm, n journaled q i sa'ld'drum rotates Y in a frameZ and adapted to rotate around A potato f placed on the drum a Is moved their axles. On this endless band 71. rest by the same towards the roller (Z. When thepotato comes into touch" with the roller l small f sllbmltted t9 h tion of counter-we1ghts 2 or of springs.

(Z "one of the erms of the otato is cau 'ht e 7 between the drum a iid the rdller so that the In thls manner at one i of h roller potato is pulled against the roller d and the the form of constructlqn shown h 40 germ 7" ispulled out by the traction exg Of'the 9 3 a Worklng 1S PF t d upon th same i v1ded onto Wh1ch the potatoes are supphed The potato, liberatedas soonas the germ a pp 2 arranged t one slde 9 7 V h be ll d t d b itt d t th the machine. .Ineach zone the potatoes conaction of th rotating drum, alters its posiveyed by the endless band move towards the v tion and turns ov r o that, at a c t i corresponding small roller so that a germ is 5 ment, another germ is' caught between the ug between h e s band and the roller and the drum to be pulled out as deroller to be pulled out in the manner above scribed above. The potatoes placedhin a described. V funnel-shaped chamber e above the drum a The potatoes freed from their germs drop are therefore shaken under such'conditionsat the other side of the machine into a'sack g. I

e i I 1,765,902

The'endless'band may either consist ofa strongcanvas, reinforced. by small Wooden bars; or-of Wire-gauze having narrow holes,-

or of lamellw of Wood or of metal attached I V l I V 1 d g to two belts. 7 1 g x "Whenthe endless band is made oi wiregauze orof vmetal+lamellae, it might serve itself in acertain measure for pulling out the germs as these are caught in thelinks I r g p 0 0f the Wire gauZe-or between the sticks and 3 A a r m then pulled out. 7 y v One ofthe cylinders is preferably shiftably mounted on theframe so as to maintain the endless band Well stretched.v I .25 he. rollers 03, instead of being: driven by w the conveying device, miglit in both forms 7 of construction be driven mechanically.

Iclaim: a An apparatus for freeing" potatoes from I germs, comprising in combination arrotatable drum adapted to supportthe potato, longitudinal roundedribs on said drum, a V cylinder of small diameter bearing against said drum parallel to said ribs, and means a for elastically pressing said cylinder against said drum so-ithat it successively presses againstthe periphery of said drum and 1 against said rounded ribs.

In testimony-whereof I afiiX my signature. 7

. 01, 'FERNAND Baooimr.

r p I Z 1. 

